Women in Work Index: Austria continues to decline and is now only at place 25

* Improve participation of women in OECD countries has a positive impact on global GDP

* Iceland and Sweden continues to be the leader of the Women In Work Index

* Austria achieved despite a low unemployment rate of only 25 in 33 of the analyzed countries

* Furthermore, the greatest need for action the issue of Gender Wage Gap in Austria

Improving the participation of women in the entire OECD could increase global GDP by a total of six trillion dollars. This results in a current report by PwC, for the well-being and the presence of women in the world of work in 33 OECD countries has been analyzed. The latest Women in Work Index PwC also notes that, due to the complete closure of the Gender Wage-Gap, the whole of the income of women in the OECD countries, around two trillion US dollars, could rise. The Women in Work Index is determined by five indicators: the gender pay gap, participation of women, the difference between the participation of men and women, as well as unemployment and full-time employment among women.

New Zealand is catching up – Iceland and Sweden continue to dominate
the Index

Iceland (rank 1) and Sweden (rank 2) are the two leading countries of the OECD, while new Zealand is for the first Time since the first publication of the Index in 2013 the Top Three. Norway was overtaken by Slovenia and slipped back to fifth. The UK has improved progressively, with a ranking of 13 is above the OECD average and reached behind Canada, the second-best result of the G7 countries. In comparison to the previous year, Ireland (rank 17) and the Netherlands (rank 19) were able to improve due to positive trends in most indicators, particularly in the Netherlands, the female unemployment rate decreased.

„The presence and the well-being of women in the world of work has improved, heuer further step, although this improvement falls short of still to slow. Many companies are in the commercial need to optimize both diversity as well as inclusion in their organizations, but nevertheless a real and long-lasting change for many, remains hard to imagine,“ Olivia Stiedl, Leader People and Organisation at PwC Austria. „Effective change in organizations, however, require a mix of strategic clarity, responsibility, measurability, and transparency.“

Austria is lagging behind in the global comparison is enormous

Austria has deteriorated, contrary to the overall trend of the OECD continuously and is in the overall ranking of 22nd place on the 25. Place like back. The unemployment rate among women has declined, however, could be achieved in comparison to the last year, hardly an improvement in the Gender Wage-Gap.

„Companies having to vacate the women’s hurdles out of the way and actively the promotion of women to operate the company as a whole, but in leadership positions in Particular. Especially with regard to the Gender-Wage Gap, there is acute need for action in order to create an equal work environment. Also, the transparency of Information and flexible working models are issues that have influence on the presence and welfare of women in the workplace. We must meet these challenges in Austria, aware, and active approach to the international environment, close the gap,“ explains Christine Catasta, Senior Partner of PwC Austria. „The International Women’s Day on March 8. March marks the continuous progress and Efforts, the presence and the well-being of women in the world of work.“

Pent-up demand in China and India in terms of equality and potential

This year, PwC for the first Time, what can bring the promotion of gender equality and the participation of women in the labour market in China and India was looking for. As two of the most populous countries in the world, you currently have more than a third of the world’s female working population. In China, the reduction in the gender wage gap of 25 percent would have the largest impact and would increase the income of women by 34 percent. That’s the equivalent of two trillion US dollars. In India, an increase in the employment rate of women to the same level as Sweden would lead to a GDP increase of seven trillion dollars, which corresponds to an increase of the Indian GDP of about 79 percent.

„Companies need to be able to ask the question, by which measures improvements in the organization. Can be created by a reduction in the pay gap an equal work environment? How transparent information is available? There are other obstacles, which greater participation of women in the company are, in General, and in leadership positions in Particular? The Women in Work Index shows once more that both the company as well as on a macroeconomic level, an increase in the employment rate of women, as well as a reduction in the gender wage gap, significant advantages are connected,“ explains Stiedl.

All of the results and the report can be downloaded here:

[Women in Work Index 2019] (https://www.ots.at/redirect/pwcwiw)

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Barbara Long
Corporate Communications
Tel.: 01 501 88-5104
barbara.lang@pwc.com